Proud to be British...

It's not often that I say this but this week I was super proud to have been born British. I struggled a little with my identity whilst I was growing up in London with Portuguese parents, their cultural traditions being the polar opposite of those that I was surrounded by outside of the home. I remember a friend of mine who had similar background saying to me, we're from everywhere us dual nationality people. That certainly did strike a chord with me.

Nevertheless, today I feel British and proud. I've happily displayed the Union Jack and thrown myself willingly into the party. London looked glorious with all it's union jacks flying over head, so many people made such a huge effort to make the events so memorable, it will stay with me for a long time.

This week's events have got me thinking as to what other things incite my patriotism. What is the epitome of Britishness?

Food: Scones with Cornish clotted cream and Jam. A pretty pot of lapsang souchong taken in floral china teacups served with cream cakes. Cucumber sandwiches and a big picnic hamper. Homemade sausage rolls and scotch eggs. Oh and how about a Sunday Roast with all the trimmings and Yorkshire Puddings. A Victoria Sponge and flapjacks. Sliced white bread. Marmite. Hot cross buns. Mince pies. Fish and Chips. Shepherds Pie. Haggis and neaps.
 Image from Silvereditions.co.uk

Symbols of Britain: A Gentleman in a bowler hat walking along the streets of the City of London. A red telephone box  and letterbox. A big red double decker bus. Palaces, castles and country homes. The Southbank and Columbia Road Flower Market. Camden and Portobello Markets. White Cliffs Of Dover. The Lochs. The Lake district and the sandy beaches of Pembrokeshire. Quaint Country villages. Croquet on the lawn. Castles. Punks. Thatched Cottages. Cricket on the green. Black cabs.

 image from manyhattersreturn.com


British labels: Mulberry. Vivien Westwood. Penhaligons. Jo Malone. Smythson. Paul Smith. Fred Perry. Marks and Spencer. Doc Martins. Temperley. Alexander McQueen. Hunter. Burberry. Spode. Emma Bridgewater.

 Image from telegraph.co.uk

British eccentricities: Picnics along the riverbanks. Wandering the alleyways of Oxford and Cambridge. Strolling through the meadows picking wild flowers. The Beatles. Drinking cold Pimms on a hot Summer's Day in a pub garden. Worzel Gummidge.Three legged races. Sunday lunches at a country pub. Bonfire Night. Windbreakers on a wet British beach. Chelsea Flower show and secret gardens. The BBC. Bunting. Benny Hill. Punch and Judy. Vintage Fairs. London Underground. Summer and Christmas Fetes. Madness. Kilts. BBQ's in the rain. Punks. Egg and spoon races. Polo. The Wind In The Willows.















What encapsulates the British identity for you?






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